Transgender Issues in Higher Education Jack Miner Director of Operations University Registrar

2. Transgender Issues in Higher EducationJack MinerDirector of OperationsUniversity Registrar

3. What does transgender mean? Why is this a higher education issue? Life Cycle of a Student

4. Transgender • Umbrella term for anyone whose gender identity or expression differs from the norm. • Transgender is the “accepted” term for a range of ways that someone may self-identify.

5. Gender versus Sex • Sex is more aligned with biological makeup and anatomy • Gender is more aligned with personal identification, expression, and social construct.

6. Transsexual • Have physical characteristics of one sex but identify as the opposite gender. • Often seek to modify their body through hormones or surgery so the physical matches the psychological or emotional. • Term is not used as frequently as Transgender.

7. Transgender • Cross Dressers: Comfortable with their perceived birth sex and gender but enjoy dressing in clothing traditionally worn by the opposite gender. • Drag Queens (and Drag Kings): Comfortable with their perceived birth sex and gender but dress in the opposite gender clothing for entertainment. • Both fall into the Transgender umbrella but these individuals usually do not consider themselves transgender.

8. Transitioning • Process of modifying one’s personal appearance or presentation to match their gender identity.

9. Transgender Frequency • Between 1 in 250 and 1 in 500. • Equally distribution who are Male to Female as Female to Male. • More Male to Female seek surgery

10. Why Higher Education? • Students who have transitioned by the time the arrive on campus: • 8% of Female to Male Transgender students have transitioned by 18 • 5% of Male to Female Transgender students have transitioned by 18 • Students who transition while college aged (18-24) • 50% of Female to Male Transgender people transition between the ages of 18 and 24 • Only 20% of Male to Female Transgender people transition during this period. • These rates are increasing rapidly each year the survey is taken.

11. Life Cycle of a Student • Prospect • Applicant • New Student • Continuing Student • Alumni

12. Prospect • Foundation of Support • Infrastructure

13. Prospect • Non-Discrimination Policy • Include Sexual Orientation • Include Gender Identity and Expression

14. Prospect • Community Profile on Transgender Issues • Institutional visibility on GLBT issues • Marketing to GLBT community • Arts, Speakers, Athletics • Outreach to GLBT Community • Visibility of GLBT faculty, staff, and alumni • Connection with local organizations

15. Prospect • Video • Video

16. Prospect • CampusPride.org – • Top 25 GLBT universities in the country • Advocate Magazine • Top 10 university for GLBT students • Best university for transgender students • Out Magazine • Best GLBT college town • Human Rights Campaign Equality Index • Top rated hospital for GLBT community

17. Prospect • “Niche Trickery”

18. Applicant • GLBT inclusion in marketing materials • GLBT college fairs • GLBT Visit Day • Education for recruitment team including alumni recruiters

19. Applicant • GLBT inclusion in marketing materials

20. Applicant • GLBT inclusion in marketing materials • GLBT college fairs • GLBT Visit Day • Education for recruitment team including alumni recruiters

21. Applicant • Scholarships • Financial Aid staff with expertise • Federal Aid • No Match Letters • Selective Service Registration (state schools)

22. Applicant • Application Form • Common Application • Parent (rather than mother & father) • How do you ask sex and gender?

23. Applicant • Sex: Male and Female • Gender: Man and Woman • Should you include “other” with the option to self identify? • Should you include other options as a drop down (transgender, intersex, genderqueer, MTF, FTM, Pre-operative, Post-operative)? • Should you ask for a preferred pronoun?

24. Applicant • What does your database support? • Statistical Tracking and Points of Pride. • Who has access to the data?

25. Applicant • Single Sex Schools • Faith Affiliated Schools

26. New Student • Customer Service and Interaction • Train staff just in case • Be respectful and discrete • Use the appropriate pronoun • Do not “out” them • Make any processes or questions as routine as possible • Don’t ask about genitals…really this happens • Don’t assume their sexual orientation • If you are unsure of anything…ask

27. New Student • Residence Hall Options • Housing Room Assignments • Athletic Eligibility

28. New Student • Transgender Friendly Restrooms • Map Feature

30. Continuing Students • Name Changes • Preferred Name • Sex and Gender Marker Changes

31. Preferred Name • Documentation or Not? • Self Service or Not? • Where does it appear? • Where does the legal name appear? • Student ID Cards

32. Sex and Gender Marker Changes • Documentation • Where does it appear? • Archive data access • Reporting

34. Continuing Students • Academic Programs • Transgender Studies • GLBT Studies or History • Sexuality Studies • Study Abroad and Internships • Contribution to the body of knowledge

35. Continuing Students • Academic Support • Academic Counselors • Faculty Connections • Research Opportunities

36. Continuing Students • Student Programming • Transgender student groups • GLBT student groups • Transgender Awareness Week • GLBT Student Programs Office • Visibility on campus

37. Continuing Students • Student Life Support • Student Health Services • Doctors who specialize in this community • Connection to local resources and agencies

38. Continuing Students • Institutional Policies • Insurance coverage (student and faculty/staff) • Medical Center connections • Medical Leave • Polices related to larger GLBT community

39. Alumni • Rainbow Graduation • Identify GLBT alumni in alumni and donor prospect databases • Opportunities to connect with current students

40. Alumni • Opportunities to network • Opportunities to give back • Opportunities to connect with current students • Expectation of Leadership • Community Engagement

41. Questions?

42. Jack Miner Director of Operations University Registrar The Ohio State University Miner.10@osu.edu (614)292-5777